Choose an RTO
116 providers can deliver HLT33115. Availability, fees and start dates are set by each provider.
About this qualification
HLT33115 is the qualification for the people who make a hospital or clinic work around the clinicians. The register describes workers who “provide assistance to health professional staff for the care of clients”, involving “direct client contact under supervision”.
Fifteen units: seven core and eight electives. The core is deliberately general — medical terminology, organising personal work priorities, communicating in health or community services, working with diverse people, recognising healthy body systems, infection prevention and control, and workplace health and safety.
The specialisation is where it becomes a job. Two named streams appear on the testamur: Assisting in Nursing Work in Acute Care and Operating Theatre Technician. Those are genuinely different roles with different employers, and the eight electives decide which one you hold.
HLTAAP001 Recognise healthy body systems as core is what makes this a health qualification rather than an administrative one — it assumes you will be near patients.
Roles it maps to
Roles described on the national register for HLT33115.
Where it leads
Health services assistance has no Certificate IV of its own. It opens onto allied health, nursing and individual support instead.
- Certificate III · you are hereHLT33115 Health Services Assistance
- Certificate III · sidewaysHLT33021 Allied Health Assistance
- Certificate IV · leads toHLT43021 Allied Health Assistance
- Diploma · leads toHLT54121 Nursing
- Certificate III · sidewaysCHC33021 Individual Support
What it covers
Fifteen units in total. At least six electives from the listed bank, with up to two from any endorsed training package or accredited course, provided they are relevant to the work outcome.
The 7 core units, required by everyone:
- BSBMED301 Interpret and apply medical terminology appropriately
- BSBWOR301 Organise personal work priorities and development
- CHCCOM005 Communicate and work in health or community services
- CHCDIV001 Work with diverse people
- HLTAAP001 Recognise healthy body systems
- HLTINF006 Apply basic principles and practices of infection prevention and control
- HLTWHS001 Participate in workplace health and safety
For a full list of elective units, visit training.gov.au →
Frequently asked questions
- Which specialisation should I choose?
- The job decides it. Assisting in Nursing Work in Acute Care leads to ward-based Assistant in Nursing roles; Operating Theatre Technician leads to theatre work. Both appear on the testamur, so ask a provider which they deliver before enrolling.
- Is this the same as an aged care qualification?
- No. CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support is aged care, disability and home support. HLT33115 is health services — hospitals and clinics, assisting health professionals. They share two core units and lead to different sectors.
- Do I need immunisations or a police check?
- Almost always, and health services usually require them before placement. These are set by employers and health departments, not by the qualification.
- Are there entry requirements?
- The register records none for HLT33115, and no licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to the qualification itself.
- What does it cost and how long does it take?
- Both are set by each provider and are not published on the national register. Clinical placement usually applies.
Specialisations
HLT33115 is awarded with a general outcome or one of two named specialisations, printed on the testamur. The eight electives decide which, and they lead to genuinely different jobs.
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General
Certificate III in Health Services Assistance
Seven core units plus eight electives from the general bank. Awarded without a specialisation on the testamur.
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Assisting in Nursing Work in Acute Care
Certificate III in Health Services Assistance (Assisting in Nursing Work in Acute Care)
The core plus the acute care elective set — ward-based work supporting nursing staff in a hospital setting.
The common route to an Assistant in Nursing role.
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Operating Theatre Technician
Certificate III in Health Services Assistance (Operating Theatre Technician)
The core plus the theatre elective set — instrument handling, sterile technique and theatre support.
A distinct job market with its own employers.
Other registered providers
Filtered by where each provider is based, not where they can deliver.
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NSW
TAFE NSWRTO 90003
Deliver and assess · National -
QLD
TAFE QueenslandRTO 0275
Deliver and assess · National -
WA
North Metropolitan TAFERTO 52786
Deliver and assess · WA -
WA
Skills Strategies InternationalRTO 2401
Deliver and assess · National -
VIC
The Management EdgeRTO 3927
Deliver and assess · National -
QLD
AshtrailRTO 6139
Deliver and assess · National -
NSW
Open CollegesRTO 90796
Deliver and assess · National -
QLD
Axial TrainingRTO 2437
Deliver and assess · National -
SA
TIME Education and TrainingRTO 40058
Deliver and assess · National -
WA
Insight Training Group AustraliaRTO 32142
Deliver and assess · National -
QLD
Strategix Training GroupRTO 31418
Deliver and assess · National -
QLD
Axiom Syndicate Pty LtdRTO 40489
Deliver and assess · National -
Find more providers
12 of 116 providers shown — search the register for the rest
training.gov.au →
More in Health
Other qualifications in the HLT training package, nearest level first.
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